Knob-lock.



W. H. THOMAS.

KNOB LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1908.

Patented'Sept. 21, 1909.

UNTD satires ANT rrieia WILLIAM H. THOMAS, OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA;

KNOB-LOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM HARRY THOMAS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at lVhittier, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Knob-Lock, of which thefollowing is a specification.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel device for door-lockswhereby the knobs will be secured to the door without the use of anyexposed screws except such as may be employed for fastening the insideescutcheoii to the door; and in which the external knob is positivelysecured against withdrawal by means wholly concealed and inaccessiblefrom the outside of the door.

Another object is to provide readily and accurately adjustable means forsecuring the knobs to the lock in doors of various thicknesses, thus toavoid any looseness or play of the knobs or spindle, and doing away withall washers.

Another object is to provide means operable from the inside of the doorto instantly and readily free the outside knob from operative engagementwith the lock mechanism, thus to prevent the use 01': such knob fordrawing the latch-bolt; and to provide for readily and convenientlyconnecting the knob with the lock mechanism so that the latch may bedrawn by turning the outside knob.

The invention is applicable in any form of door-lock provided with alatch-bolt, and is especially desirable in doors designed to be enteredby means of a latch-key.

Other objects are cheapness, simplicity and attractive appearance.

Further objects and advantages may appear from the subjoined detaileddescription.

I do not limit the invention to any specific form of construction.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in the form atpresent deemed most desirable.

Figure 1 is a fragmental perspective view of a lock embodying thisinvention and mounted in a door, a fragment of which is shown. Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the outside and inside knobs detached from eachother, and omitting the lock and latch mechanism, the escutcheon platesand the door. The hub-coupling and spindle-socket are shown. Fig. 3 is asection on line 00 Fig. 1, show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 28, 1908.

Patented tiept. 21, 1299.

Serial No. 413,112.

ing the lock-hub with its coupling and spindle-socket on the planeindicated by 00 The other parts of the lock are omitted. Fig. 1 is asection on line 00 Fig. 1, showing the lock-hub in end elevation andomitting the door, the lock-case, and other parts of the lock. Fig. 5 isan axial section of the lockhub 011 the same plane as Fig. 1 indicatedat 00, Fig. ('3, and omitting its coupling and spindle-socket. Fig. 6 isan axial section of the lock-hub on line 00, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an endelevation of the lock-hub. Fig. 8 is a section of the hub-coupling onsame plane as Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is an axial section of the hub-coupling online 00 Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the hub-coupling with theinner spindle-socket fastened in place. The lower portion of the view isbroken to expose the fastening. Fig. 11 is a section of the innerspindle hub-socket on same plane as 1g. 1. Fig. 12 is a fragmental viewin section at 50 indicated on either side of Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a Viewof the reciproeating spindle-section detached. Fig. 14 is a view of theknob-nut to operate said spindlesection.

1 is the outside knob provided with an internally-threaded stem 2 havinga cylindrical portion seated in a circular seat 3 in a boss 4L of theoutside escutcheon 5 which is fastened by the usual means, not shown, tothe door 6 in which the mortise lock-case 7 containing the usual or anyform of lock mechanism indicated in a general way at 8, is'mounted inthe usual way. Said outside knob 1 is provided with an angular seat inthe form of an orifice 9 to receive a spindle section 10 and with acavity 11 to receive said spindle section when the same is insertedthrough the stem 2 and the angular seat 9, thus accommodating aconsiderable length of spindle that may be adjusted in or out asdesirable for applying the lock and knob to doors of diiferentthicknesses. Said spindle-section may be provided with an adjustingscrew 12 screwed into the end of the spindle and adapted to engage theinside wall of the cavity of the hollow knob 1, thus to determine thepoint at which the inner end of the outer spindle-section 10 will standwhen the spindle is fully inserted into the knob. The lock-hub iscomposed of three pieces, the outer member 18, the hubcoupling 17, and asocket 22, which when assembled are adapted to connect the spindle foroperating the hub-lever 14 of the lock. The element 13 is providedinternally with means in the form of one or more oblong lugs 15 toengage in slots 16 of said hubcoupling 17 which has a cylindrical boreand is provided with an internal shoulder 18 to engage the head 19 ofthe externallythreaded sleeve 20 having an axial perforation 21 to fitthe angular spindle section 10 which may be inserted thereinto after thesleeve 20 has been screwed into the internally screw-threaded knob-stem2.

22 is the inner spindle hub-socket having an axial perforation 23corresponding to the inner ends of the spindle sections 10 and 24. Thesocket 22 is fixed against rotation relative to the coupling 17 bysuitable means, as a screw 26 inserted through a hole a in the couplingand screwed into the socketpiece 22. This construction is provided inorder to allow rotation of the outer knobsleeve 20 relative to the hub13 at all times except when the angular portion of the spindle 24 isinserted into the axial perforation 21 of said sleeve 20, and yet toallow the spindle 24 to at all times operate the lock hub 13 through themedium of the socketpiece 22, the screw 26, the coupling 17, and lugs 15engaging in the slot 16 of the coupling. The shoulder 18 prevents thesleeve 20 from being withdrawn outwardly from the lock-hub 13 which isheld in place by the lock-case 7.

27 is an externally-threaded sleeve pro-- vided with a head 28 to engagethe inside of the inner escutcheon 29 and screwed into the hollowcylindrical internally-threaded stem 30 of the inner knob 25 which isprovided with an angularseat in the form of an orifice 31 through whichthe spindle 24 extends so as to be nonrotatable relative to the innerknob 25 in the same manner that the spindle section 10 is nonrotatablerelative to the knob 1.

The spindle section 24 has a screw-threaded portion 32 at its outer end,and is operable by a nut 33 extending axially into the hollow knob 25and rotatably connected with said knob by means of a stop in the form ofa screw 34 screwed into a portion of said inner knob and extending intoan annular groove 35 which extends around the inner cylindrical portion36 of the nut 33, so that said nut is rotatable relative to the hollowknob 25 and to the spindle section 24, whereby when the nut 33 isrotated independently of the knob 25, it will drive the spindle 24endwise first in one and then in the other direction, as the case maybe, for the purpose of inserting the angular inner end of the innerspindle section 24 into the angular axial perforation 21 of the outerspindlesleeve 20, thus to rotatably connect the outer knob with thespindlesocket 22 so that rotation of the outer knob will cause rotationof the lock-hub 13, thus to operate the hublever and withdraw thelatch-bolt, not shown.

The sleeve 27 is provided with an angular longitudinal perforation 37through which the inner spindle 24 extends and moves axially under theimpulse of the nut 33. The inner end of said spindle 24 is preferablytapered so as to readily insert into the axial perforations of thehub-socket 22 and outer spindle-sleeve 20.

To assemble the lock in the door after the same has been mortised andbored therefor, the lock-case 7 with the lock-mechanism containedtherein will be inserted into the mortise, and then the sleeve 20 willbe inserted from the inside of the door through the hub 13 and throughthe outside escutcheon 5 where it will project into the outer knobseat3. Then the spindle of the inner knob or any other instrument capable ofprevent ing rotation of the sleeve 20, will be inserted into the axialperforation of said sleeve to prevent the same from turning. Then theouter knob 1 will be screwed onto the outer end of the sleeve 20 untilthe head of the sleeve is drawn snugly against the shoulder 18 of thehub-coupling 17, and the stem 2 of the knob is snugly seated in theknob-seat 3. Then the outer spindle-section 10 will be inserted into theouter spindle-seat 20 and through the spindle-seat 9 in the knob, andthence into the cavity of the knob. Then the spindle 24 and the nut 33will be withdrawn from the inner knob 25, the screw 34 being loosenedfor that purpose, whereupon said inner knob may be fastened in place onthe inner escutcheon 29 by inserting the inner spindle-sleeve 27 outwardthrough the escutcheon 29, and screwing the same into the screw-threadedportion of the knob 25 until the head 28 of said sleeve snugly engagesthe inside of the escutcheon and the knob-stem 30 snugly engages theseat 38 therefor in the inner escutcheon.

The outer connecting member or sleeve 20 is ordinarily constructed ofgreater length than the inner connecting member or sleeve 27 the purposebelng to provide an adjustabilty of the space between the head 19 andthe cylindrical internally-threaded portion of the outer knob 1, whichadjustability is not required for the connection of the inner knob tothe inner escutcheon. In Fig. l dotted lines indicate the position ofthe ends of the inner spindle-section 24 when the outer knob isconnected to draw the latchbolt, not shown.

The outer spindle-section 10 may be provided with a screw-threaded seat-38, or with any other suitable means by which engagement with aninstrument may be had for the purpose of withdrawing the spindle-section10 from the lock in case it is desired to remove the same from the door.Then the in ner escutcheon may be fastened in place, and thereupon thespindle 24: may be inserted through the knob 25 and sleeve 27 and intothe hub-socket 22. Then the nut may be again fastened in place bytightening the screw 34, whereupon the spindle 24 may be inserted intoand withdrawn from the angular axial perforation of the sleeve 20 byrotating the nut 38.

It is to be understood that the angular formation of thespindle-sections l0 and 2%, and the angular seats and perforations 9,21, 23, 31 and 37, may be of any desirable or convenient form orcharacter; the purpose being simplyto prevent relative rotation of theparts connected by the spindle-sections. Said seats, perforations andspindle-sections may be square, hexagonal, triangular, elliptical, oval,or of any other cross-sectional form requisite for the purpose.

The knobs may be removed from the escutcheon-plates without dismantlingthe lock by simply loosening the screw 34 to release the nut 33,whereupon said nut and its spindle-section 24L may be withdrawn.Thereupon an instrument may be inserted through the knob 25, the sleevesand the hub, into a screw-threaded hole 38 provided in the outer spindle10, whereupon the outer spindle 10 may be withdrawn. Then thespindle-section 24: or some like instrument may be inserted into themember 20 to prevent the same from rotating, while the outer knob 1 isunscrewed from the end thereof. Then the spindle-section 24 may again bewithdrawn and some instrument, not shown, provided at its end with anangular portion to prevent rotation of the member 27, may be insertedthrough the knob 25 and into the member 27 the instrument being soconstructed as not to interfere with the rotation of the knob 25 afterthe instrument has been inserted. Then said knob 25 may be unscrewedfrom the member 27 while such member is held from rotation by such instrument, not shown. Thus both knobs may be removed by a person havingaccess to the inside of the door while the removal of either knob isimpossible to a person not having such access.

To dismantle the lock, the inner escutcheon may be first removed, thuswithdrawing the spindle-section 24L from the hub, whereupon thehub-coupling l7 and its bushing or spindle-socket 28 may be withdrawnfrom the main body of the hub 13, and then the spindle-section 10 may bewithdrawn by any suitable instrument, and the member 20 may then be heldagainst rotation while the outside knob is unscrewed therefrom.Thereupon the member 20 may be withdrawn outward through the hub and theboring in the door and the orifice 89 in the door, thus leaving thelock-case free to be withdrawn from its mortise 40.

The knobs are reversible so that they may be applied to doors opening tothe right and left; the sectional hub being so constructed that all thatis necessary to reverse the lock so as to reverse the knobs is simply towithdraw the coupling 17 with its bushing 23 and insert it from theother side of the door. Then the knobs may be fastened in place asbefore except that they are on the opposite sides of the door from thatshown in Fig. 1. Then the spindle 24 may be inserted into and withdrawnfrom the member 20, thus locking and unlocking the knobs relative toeach other.

I claim l. The combination with a hub comprising an outer member and ahub-coupling having an internal shoulder and an angular spindlesocket,of a knob, a member rotatably mounted in said hub and provided with ahead to engage said shoulder and nonrotatably connected with the knob,and a spindle-section nonrotatably connected with the hub and adapted tomove into and out of engagement with said member to rotate the knob andto allow the knob to rotate independently thereof.

2. The combination with a hub, of an inner knob, a nut rotatably mountedthrough the center of the inner knob and held against reciprocation, aspindle slidingly mounted in the hub and knob and adapted for rotatingthe hub, a screw extending from the spindle into the nut, an outer knobrotatably mounted relative to the hub and having a socket to receive theend of the spindle, so that by operating the nut in the inner knob thespindle is reciprocated to connect and disconnect the outer knob fromthe hub.

The combination with a hub, of an inner knob, a nut rotatably mountedthrough the center of the inner knob and held against reciprocation, aspindle slidingly mounted in the hub and knob and adapted for rotatingthe hub, a screw extending from the spindle into the nut, a socketrotatably mounted relative to the hub, and an outer knob extensiblymounted on the socket, so that by operating the nut in the inner knobthe spindle is reciprocated to connect and disconnect the outer knobfrom the hub.

4L. The combination with a hub, a knob rotatable relative thereto,another knob, a spindle connecting said other knob to the hub to preventrelative rotation therebetween, the same being provided with ascrew-threaded portion and a nut on said screw-threaded portion andcarried by said other knob and adapted to move the spindle toalternately connect and disconnect the hub and said first-named knob.

A knoblock comprising a hub, a spindle slidingly and non-rotatablymounted in the hub, a screw upon the outer end of the spindle, an innerknob nonrotatably mounted upon the spindle, a nut extending through thecenter or the inner knob and rotatably mounted and held againstreciprocation and screw-seated upon the spindle, a socket rotatablymounted relative to the hub and adapted to receive the spindlenonrotatably, the inner end of the spindle being beveled so as to findits way into the socket; an outer knob adjustably and nonrotatablymounted upon the socket, so that by manipulating the nut in the innerknob the spindle may be reciprocated to connect and disconnect the outerknob to the hub.

6. The combination with a knob, of a nut mounted to rotate in said knob,a stop to prevent endwise movement of the nut, and a spindlenonrotatably connected with the knob and provided with a screw-threadedportion for operation by the nut.

7. The combination with a lock-hub provided with one or moreinternally-projecting lugs, of a coupling provided with an internalshoulder and with longitudinal slots to re ceive said lugs, and insertedin said hub, a sleeve provided with a head in said coupling and engagingsaid shoulder, a socket-piece inserted in the coupling, means securingthe socket-piece in the coupling, and a spindle movable endwise in thesocket-piece to engage and disengage the sleeve to connect anddisconnect the sleeve and hub to prevent and to allow relative rotationof said hub and sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 22d day of January, 1908.

' H. THOMAS.

In presence ot JAMES P. TOWNSEND, M. BEULAI-I TOWNSEND.

